Flexible pipe-joint.



W. A. GREENLAW. FLEXIBLE ms JOINT.

APPLIOATION'I'ILED APR. 25, 1908.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. WARREN A. GREENLAW, OF MELRCTSE HIGHLrThITDS FIASSAGHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GREENLAW MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- TIO1\ OF MAINE.

. FLEXIBLE PIPE-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 125, 1908.

To all whom it may concern: 1 having a wedge-shaped flange 25 between Be it known that I, WARREN A. GREEN- which and a similar wedge-shaped flange 26 LAW, a citizen of the United States of Ameron the inner end of the tubular member 19 is ica, and a resident of Melrose Highlands, in interposed a packing 27. The spring 23 No. 918,144. Patented April 13, 1909.

Serial No. 429,282.

the county of Middlesex and State of Massa- 1 forces the follower ring 24 firmly into con chusetts, have invented certain new and tact with the packing 27 and causes the useful Improvements in Flexible Pipe-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flexible pipe joints and has for its object the production of a joint in which the friction between the socket member and the ball member working therein will be reduced to a minimum end it consists in providing the socket member and the ball member each with a semispherical seat between which is interposed a floating semi-spherical ring provided with means for limiting the movement thereof.

The invention further consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be readily understood by reference to the description of the drawings and to the claims hereinafter given.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a joint embodying the features of this invention, and Fig. 2 represents a transverse section of the same, the cutting plane being on line 22 on Fig. 1.

Similar characters designate like parts throughout the drawings.

In the drawings, 10 represents a pipe member provided with an enlarged cup-shaped end 11 to which is threaded a coupling ring 12 provided with an annular packing 13 the interior face of which forms a semi-spherical seat for the ball end 1 4 of the pipe member 1 5.

The socket member 10-11 is provided with an annular axial flange 16 forming a cylindrical chamber 17 to which is fitted a tubular member 18, the outer end of which is provided with a semi-spherical seat 19. The ball member 15 is provided with an axial extension 20 projecting into the interior of the ball end 14 and provided with a semi-spherical seat 21. Between the semispherical seats 19 and 21 is interposed a ring 22 the outer face of which is semi-spherical and conforms to the seats 19 and 21 between which said ring 22 is interposed.

The tubular member 18 is forced into contact with the ring 22 and the ring 22 with the seat 21 of the extension 20 by means of the s ring 23 in the inner end of the chamber 17. T 's spring 23 bears upon a follower ring 24 j wedge-shaped flanges 25 and 26 to act there i 011 to force the packing outwardly into coni tact with the inner wall of the chamber 17 to thoroughly pack the joint between the tubular member 18 and the annular flange 16 and thereby prevent the material passing through the joint from escaping into the interior of the enlarged chamber 28 within the cup-shaped end 11. Should any material escape into this chamber it would act upon the interior of the ball end 14 to force it more firmly against its seat on the packing 13.

The normal position of the ring 22 is as shown in the drawings and this ring is made of a metal softer than that from which the ball end 1 1 and the tubular member 18 are made.

The ring 22 is provided with a peri heral flange 29 against which the ends of t 1e extension 20 and tubular member 18 are adapted to co-act to limit the movement of the ring in either direction. It is obvious that from the position in Which it is shown in Fig. 1 to a position in which it is shown in dotted lines in said figure, the seat 21 will ride over the exterior surface of the semi sion 21 comes into contact with the under movement of the pipe member 15 will cause the ring to be moved with said pipe member until the flange 29 comes into contact with. the inner edge of the tubular member 18. This reduces the friction upon the joint when the ball and socket members are at an extreme angle to each other inasmuch as it provides a means whereby the various parts extend for a less distance within the cylindrical passage for the flow of material through the joint, thus making less obstruction for the flow of material and as a conse quence leaving less surface for the material to bear against and thus increase of friction between the movable parts.

It is believed that from the foregoing the operation and many advantages of the invention will be fully. understood.

if the pipe member 15 is moved to the right spherical ring 22 until the end of the extenside of the flange 29 and any continued Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination of a ball member provided with a semispherical seat; a socket member provided with a semi-spherical seat; a ring for coupling said members together having a semispherical seat for said ball member; and a floating ring interposed between the seats on said tubular member and ball member.

2. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination of a ball member provided with an axial extension terminating in a semi-spherical seat a socket member provided with a semispherical seat; a ring for coupling said members together having a semi-spherical seat for said ball member; and a floating ring interposed between the seats on said tubular member and ball member.

3. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination of a ball member provided with an axial extension terminating in a semi-spherical seat; a socket member having a cylindrical chamber; a ring for coupling said. members together having a semi-spherical seat for said ball member; a tubular member in said chamber provided with a semi-spherical seat and a floating. ring interposed between the seats on said tubular member and ball memher.

4. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination of a ball member provided with an axial extension terminating in a semi-spherical seat; a socket member having a cylindrical chamber; a ring for coupling said members together havin a semi-spherical seat for said ball member; a tubular member in said cylindrical chamber provided with a semispherical seat; a spring in said chamber acting on said tubular member; and a floating ring interposed between the seats on said tubular member and ball member.

5. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination of a ball member provided. with an axial extension terminating in a semi-spherical scat a socket member havin a cylindrical chamber; a ring for coupling said members together having a semi-spherical seat for said ball member; a tubular member in said chamber provided with a semi-spherical seat; a spring in said chamber acting on said tubular member; a packing between said tubular member and spring; and a floating ring interposed between the seats on said tubular member and ball member.

6. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination- {ball member; a tubular member in said :chamber provided with a semi-spherical seat; spring in said chamber acting on said tubular member; a packing between said tubular member and spring; an annular follower between said packing and spring; and a floating ring interposed between the seats on said tubular member and ball member.

7. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination of a ball member provided with an axial extension terminating in a semi-spherical seat; a socket member having a cylindrical chamher; a ring for coupling said members togather having a semi-spherical seat for said ball member; a tubular member in said chamber provid d with a semi-spherical seat; a spring in said chamber acting on said tubular member; a packing between said tubular member and spring; an annular follower between said. packing and spring provided with a wedge-shaped extension adapted to act upon said packing; and a said tubular member and ball member.

of a ball member provided with an axial cxtension terminating in a semi-spherical seat a socket member having a cyiindricai chamber; means for couph'ng said members together; a tubular member in said chamber provided at its outer end with a semispherical seat and at the other with an inclined annular wall; a packing ring surrounding said annular wall; an annular fola spring interposed between said follower and the bottom of said chamber; and a floating ring interposed between said seats.

9. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination of a ball member provided with an axial extension tcrminating in a semi-spherical seat;

ber; means for coupiing said members together; a tubular member in said chamber provided at its outer end with a semispherieai seat and at its inner end with an inclined annular wall; packing ring sur rounding said annular wall; an annular follower superin'iposed upon said packing ring interposed between said ioilower and the bottom of said chamber; and a floating ring interposed between said seats.

day of April, 1908.

WARREN A. GREENLAI'V. Ni tnesses:

WALTER LOMBARD, EDNA C. CLEVELAND.

floating rin interposed between the seats on' 8. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination lower simcrimposed upon said packing ring;

a socket member having a cylindrical chamand provided with a wedge-shaped flange adapted to act on said packing; a spring Signed by me at Boston, Mass, this 23d 

